Pop Albums Outsell Rock Records For First Time In 7 Years
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Monday, 16 January 2012 |
Written by Elliott Batte
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There’s been some sad news for guitar-based rock bands today, as it emerged that pop albums have managed to outsell rock albums for the first time in seven years.
The depressing news was unveiled by the Official Charts Company earlier today, who also revealed that seven of the top ten selling albums of last year were classed as pop. Pop made up 33.6% of the albums sold last year, with the likes of Adele giving huge boosts to the figures. Rock sales dropped from 31.2% to 29.4%, the lowest figure for the genre since 2003.
So what’s with the surge of pop and the decline of rock? Jim Chancellor, who signed Elbow and Snow Patrol for his label Fiction Records, says industry big-wigs are too ‘scared’ to sign new bands because they’re ‘not succeeding’ – leading to a vicious circle of no deals and less releases. Chancellor said: “The problem is everyone is looking for instant results from a new signing. What we’ve tried to do at Fiction is help bands through those phases. We try and nurture talent.”
Geoff Taylor, chief executive of BPI, offered his opinion on the shift in power. “2011 was a vintage year for Pop albums so it is hardly surprising that the genre has elbowed Rock aside as the nation’s favourite. Although rock’s share is the lowest for eight years, it still accounts for three in ten of every albums sold so recent reports of its demise are premature.
“Pop has managed to double its share of singles sales in the space of five years and now outsells Rock by two-to-one. It’s no coincidence that over the same period dozens of vibrant, digital music services have launched in Britain, enabling younger music fans to buy and enjoy tracks online at pocket money prices.”
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